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Saturday, December 31, 2011

A new year. What of the one passing? I cannot help but reflect on our tumultuous 2011. Through the utilization of technology, the world provided the world, quite simply, a view of itself.

In my experience, I were able to meet and speak to utterly brave people who endured grave sacrifice in order to make this world a better place.

I am humbled by such things.

From Tunisia to America, and every nation between, uprisings have been the headlines of every newspaper, broadcast, article and discussion. It is not through any major network I found truth, more so through the mouths of those living in each situation as it occurred.

Five days after the Tunisian Revolt, I met and interviewed a brave young woman, who, for the first time was able to speak freely, no longer ruled beneath the regime of Ben Ali. I met her in New York in 2011.

I watched news feeds from Abbottabad, Pakistan as the death of Osama bin Laden was about to occur before the world knew. Live in front of my eyes, one man told the world what he was seeing and hearing.

In Yemen, sustainable goods such as food, water and basic needs was made possible from reputable organizations wishing to give, not knowing how to connect. Through the tireless work of countless streams of activists that responded to a simple message: "I have orgs wishing to aid Yemen, please reply" - aid reached those who needed it.

Bahrain provided me with the honor of translating an essential video, an apology from a mainstream journalist. All I did was respond to the message I had seen: "Need help translating this video." So I did.

Egypt. I sat here and cried watching death occur before my eyes, not being able to do anything but tell others what I were seeing. The courage of people left to themselves to be brutalized twice by police and military caused me to be grateful for all that I have. The words of one of my brothers will stay with me forever: "Do not worry about me, I would rather die in honor than live a slave."

Palestine. Oh, Palestine. I can write volumes on this. The numerous boats to Gaza, the intifadas online and globally scattered individuals joining hands to support such a heinous abomination of one people was and is downright righteous. The murder of Vittorio Angiolini was absolutely horrendous, beyond evil, and leaves a deep chasm inside of my heart.

America. Occupy Together, Occupy Wall Street. I sat on my porch and thought: "I need to be a part of this, it began in my state. New York" - just to see that Occupy Buffalo had already begun in my own city. This movement has spread internationally. It is by far the most horrific and tremendous action to occur in America since the Civil Rights Movements in the 1960's.

Pakistan. Far too much has occurred to write of this evening, yet through the people of Pakistan, and I do mean throughout the entire nation; medical aid for dengue and financial aid for those still affected by the 2010 floods [food, water and tents] reached its destinations. Again, through people who cared enough to respond and act. The murder of investigative journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad caused me to write about why he were no longer here. That led me to Afghanistan where I were translated to Dari.

Afghanistan led me to where I am today.

Looking at 2012.

I write this last evening of 2011 not to say: "I did this" or "They did that" or to not include any nation or its people, rather to give everyone reading this short note a simple reminder:

You do and can make a difference. You do not need to leave your home. You do not need to leave your city or town. You do not have to be rich nor do you have to travel to any nation. You need not win any award, speak at any conference or be a global ambassador to the world.

All you need is a heart, a little bit of courage to be yourself and to believe wholeheartedly in what you are doing.

That to me is success. You see, it begins within and spreads throughout.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Saturday, December 17, 2011

From Indian actor Nandita Das in Mumbai, to peace groups and individuals all over India and Pakistan, and in countries as far away as Korea, Australia, Canada and America, thousands are supporting Pray for Peace Between India and Pakistan Day on Sunday, Dec 18, 2011.

Inspired by the idea of the power of collective prayer or meditation, Toronto-based Swati Sharan randomly picked the date several months ago.

“These prayers can be done from anywhere on the globe by any one, of any nationality… the more people pray for something at a given time, the greater the difference it can make,” she wrote in an initial article in May explaining the idea, published by Aman ki Asha, an ongoing peace campaign launched by the two largest media groups of India and Pakistan, the Times of India and the Jang Group of Pakistan on Jan 1, 2010.

“India and Pakistan could be like Canada and the US, which share the Niagara Falls as a common border,” she wrote in a follow-up piece.

The articles provided her email address. Among those who responded was Athar Aamir, a volunteer with the Youth Parliament of Pakistan. Together, they created a facebook page and event.

“All we are asking people to do, where ever they are in the world, is to take out thirty seconds of their time that day to Pray for Peace Between India and Pakistan,” says Sharan.

Susan Marie, a journalist and human rights advocate in Buffalo, New York with a special interest in Pakistan (one of her blogs is Pakistan: A 3DPerspective) has volunteered her time and media contacts to project the cause. She has sent the event information to media outlets and peace groups around the world.

“It is important for the world to understand both sides, from Pakistan and India,” she says. “The only ethical way to do that from America is to learn directly from and through those living in and through such experiences.”

Prominent Indian actor Nandita Das also fully supports the initiative. “Too many lives and resources and too much time has been lost in the mindless perception of animosity between India and Pakistan,” she wrote in an email message from Mumbai.

“We the people of both countries want peace and calm. For our own well being we need to actively participate in a positive action that is both hopeful and constructive.”

The initiative received support from within India and Pakistan even before the facebook page was activated. In India, the Pentecostal Church in Bihar and Jharkhand, with a membership of 20-30,000 people pledged to participate, as did Youth for People, an NGO against corruption.

In Pakistan the prestigious Lahore School of Economics is providing a free space for its students and their friends to gather and pray for peace day.

Also on board is Sally Fisher in New York, who co-produced Eve Ensler​’s Vagina Monologues. Fisher, who blogs at Don’t Just Stand There, Do Something posted on the facebook event: “It is my privilege to pray with others around the world, our world which is so in need of peace.”

Since the facebook event was created, many other expressions of support have poured in from around the world.

“Hope two neighbours find ultimate peace and love each other… Fight leaves nothing but a tragedy and unforgettable painful memories for longer than two generations. Believe me… I know what I am talking about,” wrote Tony Lee from Korea.

“Will be praying for peace between India and Pakistan. Much love from Australia,” posted Diane Taylor.

“Peace between India and Pakistan would mean more attention towards the real problems of the region, like poverty, ill health, illiteracy, ignorance, and women issues. There is no other way to prosperity,” says Ilmana Fasih, an Indian-born doctor married to a Pakistani.

For thousands of cross-border families and couples like Dr Fasih and her husband, who find it difficult to visit relatives in each other’s countries due to the difficulties obtaining visas, better relations between India and Pakistan would literally mean their prayers being answered.

"Peace between India and Pakistan has been stubbornly elusive and yet tantalizingly inevitable. This vast subcontinent senses the bounties a peace dividend can deliver to its people yet it recoils from claiming a share.

The natural impulse would be to break out of the straitjacket of stated positions and embrace an ideal that promises sustained prosperity to the region, yet there is hesitation.

There is a collective paralysis of the will, induced by the trauma of birth, amplified by false starts, mistrust, periodic outbreaks of violence, suspicion, misplaced jingoism and diplomatic doublespeak.

Hypnotized by their own mantra, the two states are reluctant to move towards normalization until certain terms and certain promises are kept." - Jang Group & Times of India

Monday, December 12, 2011

A love of reading begins at home. Reading aloud to a young child is a critical building block in their development, enhancing their vocabulary and building the skills. Access to books at home can be a luxury to families who strugge during tough economic times.

Through a donation from The Rotary Club of Buffalo, 501c(3) charitable trust, Read to Succeed Buffalo and the Literacy Coalition launched a new program, "Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library", to provide a new, age appropriate book every month to every child under the age of five in Buffalo’s 14215 zip code, Buffalo's East Side, the RTSB Literacy Zone.

Any child from birth through age five who resides in the zip code is eligible to register and participate in the program.

In Syracuse, New York, where the program has been in operation for 18 months, nearly 70 percent of families are reporting that they are reading at least three times per week with their child and 21 percent report that they are reading once or twice per week.

Ed Meyer, Buffalo Rotary Foundation President added, “Sometimes the simplest act can have a profound impact, such as igniting the imagination of a child through a brand new book."

Friday, November 18, 2011

Ethereal Gust, the highly anticipated follow-up album to Free Henry!’s Summers On Neptune, brings the band back to their roots, performing their CD Release Show at Mr. Goodbar, 1110 Elmwood Ave. on Friday, November 25, 2011 at 10:30PM.

“We are very excited to stamp Mister Goodbar as our CD release venue. It has clearly been the hub of our success in Buffalo! The release of our best work ever, the dominating 2 year studio project that is…Ethereal Gust” said front man Bob Buckley.

The album title, Ethereal Gust, describes the poetic imagination that went into creating this 10 track collection that developed over the past few years. “Ethereal Gust, is unlike our first studio album.

“We’re always trying to go in new directions”, explained bass guitarist Derek Presti. “We said going into this project that our focus would be to create a piece that showcases each band member’s depth and uniqueness.”

The band shifted gears challenging themselves to reach for new heights as writers, musicians and performers. The album was recorded at GCR Audio, collaborating with audio engineer Jay Zubricky. The featured single, ‘Ocean Growth’, opens with a riveting and mesmerizing rhythmic pulsation and takes the listener into a hypnotic flow capturing the bands vibrant spirit which is signature to this distinctive quartet’s sound.

The albums funk song, ‘Layin' It Down’ features one of Buffalo’s finest and most sought after musicians, DJ Cutler. Cutler provides a foundation of percussive elements that fit hand in glove with Free Henry!'s live funk flavor. His unique sampling brings magic to the entire track, while hinting to the political and social issues that afflict our day-to-day present lives.

Free Henry! is Bob Buckley (vocals/guitar), Alex Foote (vocals/guitar), Derek Presti (bass guitar) and Pat Mannella (drums). Gigging regularly on the Buffalo circuit, the band has shared the stage with Soulive, Rusted Root, Foreigner, Barenaked Ladies, 54-40, Blues Traveler and The Guess Who at various music festivals and venues throughout the Northeast.

This year they won Niagara Falls USA Hard Rock Café’s Battle of the Bands and headlined Artpark’s stage kicking off the 2011 summer concert series.

Visit the WEBSITE and YOU TUBE for a complete viewing of Promotion relating to the album.

Monday, October 31, 2011

MIC is an annual, two-day networking event bringing together cutting-edge artists, groundbreaking bands, professional musicians and original music of all genres alongside today’s leading music industry leaders.

Speakers:Matt Ramone: Son of famed music producer Phil Ramone, Matt is heading up the newly formed Phil Ramone Music Management company.

Harvey Leeds: After a long career with Epic Records, Sony Music and Live Nation, Harvey an Syracuse University Alum is still active in the Music Industry signing new talent.

Moses Avalon: Author, one of the top music business experts in the country.

Avalon’s top selling music industry references, "Million Dollar Mistakes" and "Confessions of a Record Producer" continue to be required reading in over 50 music business courses around the world including the music business programs at UCLA, Loyola, and NYU.Martin Atkins: the definition of entrepreneurial activity in cultural arts. Three decades in the music business spans across genres, borders and industries.

Experience in nearly every aspect of record production and promotion has given Martin a unique perspective not only on where the music industry is currently, but where it is going in the future. Peter Spellman: author of "The Musician's Internet: Online Strategies for Success in the Music Industry"and "The Self-Promoting Musician: Strategies for Independent Music Success" are used by music entrepreneurs in over twenty countries. Peter is Director of Career Development at Berklee College of Music, Boston.In addition to these career changing speakers, panels will be offered with entertainment attorneys, producers, venue managers, club owners and media. MIC is a launching ground for intellectual and creative networking to nurture career growth and contribute to building professional relationships.

By day, fuse with managers, labels, promoters, press, internet media outlets, fellow artists and other top music industry professionals. Build business interest and relationships at the MIC Trade Show.

Educate and explore at MIC panel discussions, presenting a forum for topics that will assist you in learning about aspects of the music industry including: publishing, record deals, booking, licensing your music for TV and film, new technologies, social networking, radio airplay, marketing and promotion.Who: Anyone interested in learning more about the music industry.

Area High School students interested in a career in the Music Industry are invited to attend for free. Have your High School contact Debbie Foley 315-247-1718.When: OnCenter Convention Center (800 S. State Street), November 11 and 12. Live performances scheduled throughout downtown Syracuse all weekend. Final band schedule TBA.

Selected artists will receive badges/wristbands to attend MIC on sale now at MIC Website

Conveniently located in the heart of New York state, Syracuse is the region's major metropolitan center at the crossroads of Interstate 81 and the New York State Thruway.

The Convention Center in the Oncenter Complex will play host to scores of MIC attendees, as well as multiple stages where you may catch the excitement of the best live music from artists around the United States and Canada.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

You are cordially invited to a sit-in protest [Dhurna] for the release of Missing Persons of Pakistan, people and families who exist in devastation and torture. Kindly play your role to restore Justice and Rule of Law and to stop illegal abductions still going on in the name of the "War on Terror."

Monday, October 24, 2011

On this day in 1929, the U.S. Stock Market crashed. The day became known as "Black Thursday." Around 13 million stocks were sold off in one day. By the next Tuesday, the market had lost almost 26 billion dollars of value. Banks failed, individual investors lost their savings, and the Great Depression began in America.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Lifetime Memories Photography and Serenity Salon, Spa 'n more present: PINCS [Proponents In Networking for Cancer Survivors] a network of local business women that assist breast cancer survivors and families in finding various avenues of help and support in Western New York.

This fundraiser includes a fashion show, "En Vogue for the V", as well as a wellness expo.

Local designers DMattliano, Hamburg Boutique and Monroe's Place, a Hamburg-based Boutique, will be present along with breast cancer survivors educating the public on their experience.

Tickets are $20, include light refreshments, door prizes, and entertainment, There will be basket raffles, 50/50 and a chance to win a queen size mattress and box spring donated by City Mattress. All proceeds benefit The Breast Cancer Network of Western New York.

Tickets are available at Serenity Salon, Spa 'n more [1100 Southwestern Blvd, West Seneca], Monroe's Place [182 Lake St, Hamburg] and online: www.pincs.org.

Info regarding support, vendor, endorsement, or joining PINCS can be found by contacting: